alohasurfer73 wrote:Is it true what they say, that you need to add one square meter on a c-kite to get the same power as a bridled one? I mean for example if I have the 10 meter Park, and I want the same power and low end in a Torch, then do I need to buy the 11 meter Torch?
And also, can I hold a Torch 11 in as strong wind as I can hold a Park 10? I can hold the Park 10 in about 28-30 knots, then I change to the 8.
No, the 1m rule is not correct.
C-kites and bow kites have the same power if they are the SAME size.
Keep in mind that kite manufacturers only use numbers (10m Park, etc) as a guideline. A kite may be anywhere between 9m and 11m in surface area, even if it listed as a "10m".
"Projected area" is an illogical design concept and is a throwback from 10 years ago. It is still used by some people with a limited understanding of kite aerodynamics. "Projected area" assumes a kite's power is proportional to the size of kite's "shadow" - INCORRECT. This misconception ignores the fact that those parts of a kite not in the "projected area", e.g. wingtips on a C-kite, develop as much power per unit area as the "projected" part of the kite. Wind doesn't strike a kite at right-angles (the assumption implicit in the concept of "projected area"), it essentially travels parallel to the kite's surface.
To try to make the concept simpler: Think about a windsurfer or a sailboat. Their "wings" are essentially perpendicular to the water (for the sake of the argument - in a similar orientation to the tips of a C-kite), but still generate power and lift.
There are significant differences in handling, glide, etc, between a C-kite or bow kite. But not in POWER, assuming they REALLY are the same size.
Pumpy